Veteran walks into sheriff's station with WWII-era grenade

A man walked into the Crescenta Valley sheriff's station, shown on map, on Sunday evening with a hand grenade that he was seeking to discard.

A man walked into the Crescenta Valley sheriff's station, shown on map, on Sunday evening with a hand grenade that he was seeking to discard. (Mapping L.A.)

Ari Bloomekatz

The entrance of the Crescenta Valley sheriff's station was closed for about an hour Sunday after an 84-year-old World War II veteran walked in holding a paper bag with what he described as a training grenade inside.

The man then took the bag outside and placed it in the public parking lot, which, along with the station's lobby, was closed to visitors and any traffic.

A bomb squad rendered the grenade safe and normal operations resumed about 7:25 p.m. Investigators believe the grenade was a World War II practice grenade called an MK-II.

"We recommend the public not touch, pick up or transport anything that might be flammable or explosive," said Sgt. Joseph Acevedo of the Sheriff's Arson/Explosives Detail. "You should instead immediately call local authorities and let us render it safe where it is."